Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-04-29

senator Against
the Committee Bill - Amendments |
Lost and the Bill Passed-The APP
preparation for the Tax Commission
The House Rejects the Resolution
constitutional Amendments Commit
tee Report FavOrably ON the Prohibi-
tory Amendment - speaker Hoyt
Complains of Slow Committee Work
Anxious for an Adjournment.
HARTFORD, April %, 1887.
Especial to the JOURNAL AND CoURIER1
The sixty-third day of the session was
ushered in with cloudy sky, but this, con-
trary to expectations, did not cause an early
adjournment. The Senate held protracted
session. It was called to order at 1890
a. IN. and was in session constantly with the
exception of thirty minutes recess until
4:30 o'clock. The Senators stuck manfully
to their posts and considered two of the most
important measures before the legislature
grade crossing bills and the change of the
Litchield county seat.
REDEMPTION OF STATE BONDS.
The bill providing for the redemption of
State bonds maturing May 1, 1887, was called
up by Senator Coffin. He moved to amend
SO that 900 instead of $33, 900 must be
paid May 1, and there is no requirement as
to the 100000 payment. Another amend
ment was offered providing for s., 900, 900 of
new bonds redeemable at the pleasure of the
State. The amendments were agreed to and
the bill tabled for printing as amended.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The order of the day relating to grade
crossings was taken up at II o'clock and was
not disposed of until 3:15p. m.
Or fho hoI NV
making strong speech in favor of the SUBJ
stitute bill which passed the House yester-
day. This requires from two to five per
| cent of the grade crossings On every road to
be abolished. When roads pay no dividends
two-thirds of the cost shall be paid by the
State, when roads pay five per. cent dividends
the State is to pay one-half and when paying
over five per cent. two fifths shall be paid by
| the State. Senator Graham, chairman of
| the railroad committee, said the bill was the
result of long consideration of diff
| ferent plans by the railroads. Senator
Hill moved to substitute for the pend
| ing bill his own bill, which puts
almost the entire expense on the railroads
and providing that all grade crossings must
be discontinued within ten years. Under the
| DILL the railroads would pay the whole cost
| on crossings of roads built before the road
| was. He proceeded to present the facts in
| support of his bill. The cost in detail to the
State according to the amended bill will be
on the basis of last years dividends and the
number of crossings as ], PAT with an average
| of 81, 600 for each removal. This is a total
of So, 221 1855, but may be increased to &c.
lie, 800 by the possibility of the railroads
reducing or passing their dividends. Senator
| Hill presented many other statistics and
| figures in support of his own bill and
| in opposition to the House bill. The latter,
he said, would bring enormous expense
L CA.k@ H., b - khA Cko,,
| dard Oil company, the Vanderbilts and other
great investors in the railroads of Connect
cut. In conclusion he fully explained the
details of the bill and their application and
offered amendment allowing roads whose
stock is above par to issue additional capital
stock, which shall be sold at auction in New
York in blocks of $50 shares. Senator Sum
ner made strong speech against Senator
Hills bill Under it, he said, three-fourths
of the roads of the State would be bankrupt
ed. The railroads have built up the bust
ness of Connecticut. We should not throt-
| tie them A vote was taken on the receivai
of the Hill bill and an amendment, but it
was rejected.
Senator Walsh moved to substitute the
amended House bill and to amend it SO that
from two to FIVE per cent. of the crossings
| must be abolished before January 1, 1889.
He favored amending SO that the railroads
shall pay thirty per cent. of the expense and
also three per cent. additional for every one
per cent. of the dividend declared in 1885,
Senator Grahsm argued that ten per cent.
| or $106, 900 of the railroad taxes for year
would pay the States share of the expense in
| the change as proposed in the committee bill.
The entire work might be spread over fifty
years at not exceeding 100000 for the
| State and like amount for the roads. Sen
| ator Hill claimed that under that plan it
| would cost every citizen in the State $50
| apiece and the evil was in having the abol-
4 - o.
ner debated further and recess was taken.
After the recess the vote was taken on the
amendments offered by Senator Coffin. The
| vote was by yeas and nays. The amendments
/ were defeated. The vote standing 8 to II.
| The vote was then taken on the amendments
offered by the House. They were carried. SEN
| ator Coffin then moved an amendment which
was also carried. It provides that the rail-
road commissioners shall have the power to
| reject all bids which they deem it would not
/ be for the best interests of the State to &C.
| cept. The bill was then passed.
Hardly had the vote been taken when
| Senator Walsh moved reconsideration.
Senator Staub at this juncture asked a
special favor that the Litchfeld county seat
| matter be taken up. 1t was agreed to and
| the grade crossing bill was temporarily to
bled
Senator Coffin asked for the reading of the
bill. After warm debate Litchield was
beaten by yea and nay vote as follows:
| Yeas 16, nays 4.
The grade crossing bill was then taken
from the table and further discussed. The
Senate adhered to its former action.
The bill requires from two to five per cent.
of the grade crossings on every road to be
abolished annually. When roads pay NO
dividends two-thirds of the cost shall be paid
by the State; when roads pay five per cent.
dividends the State is to pay one-half and
when paying over five per cent. dividend
two-ffths shall be paid by the State. The
| Senate struck out the House amendment or
dering the railroad commissioners to abolish
grade crossings on the petition of railroad
mpanies.
HOUSE BUSINESS.
The House concu1red with the Senate in
passing bill prohibiting the sale of liquor
at or within 1910 feet of agricultural fairs
| AN EARLY ADJOURNMENT DESIRABLE.
| Speaker Hoyt reminds the various com
| mittees that over one hundred matters re-
manned unreported; twenty-four matters
were in the hands of the committee on edu-
cation. He urged that an early adjournment
| was desirable and that the House was sub
| jected to serious delay in consequence of the
tardy action of committees.
A FAVORABLE REPORT.
The committee on constitutional amend
| ments reported favorably on the resolution
submitting to the people the prohibitory
amendment forbidding the manufacture OF
sale of spirituous and intoxicating liquors.
HARTFoRDs FREE BRIDGES.
The committee to-day reported favorably
on the bill making the bridges in Hartford
county free. The fight before the commit
tee was long and bitter.
COURT AND CIVIL EXPENSES.
The bills appropriating money for the
courts for the two years ending June 30
1889, and for the civil expenses of the State
were passed.
IT GETS $4,000.
The act making appropriations for the hui
name and reformatory institutions of State
caused much debate. Opposition was made
to granting an appropriation of $4,000 to
the Connecticut School for Imbeciles. 1t
was moved by Mr.. Hawley of Brookfeld
that the amount be made $40, 200. The bill
was then passed unanimously.
ONE APPROPRIATION LOST.
The House this afternoon rejected the res
olution paying the tax commission $4,000.
| Personal.
Miss Emma Bray, daughter of Rev. Mr.